Socket for incandescent electric lamps



(No Model.)

H. E. SWIFT. SOCKET POR INCANDESGENT ELEGTRIGLAMPS.

No. 436,387. Patented Sept. 16, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE E. swIF'r, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SOCKETpFOR` INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming` part of Letters Patent No. 436,387, dated September 16, 1890.

Application filed November l, 1889. Serial No. 328,929. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE E. SWIFT, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a description sufficlently full, clear, and/exact to enable any personskilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, Jforming part of this specisponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates especially to elect-ric switches or key-sockets, which are particularly adapted for use with incandescent electric lamps; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, the object being to produce a simpler, cheaper, and more effective device of this character than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation:

TWO parallel brass standards c are mounted in a disk d, composed of hard rubber or similar insulating material. A segmental insulatingdisk C is secured to the top of said standards. A circular metallic terminal D is secured to the upper face of the disk C in contact with the metallic standards e. A. screw-threaded metallic post t', which also forms a terminal, is turned centrally into the disk C, and is in electrical contact with a screw-connector p (see Fig. 2) on the under side of said disk. A horizontallyarranged rotating key-shaft g passes centrally through the standards e, and is provided with a thumb-piece Z at one end, se-

cured in position by a pin lo, and a rectangular cam-block f at its opposite end. An electrode d, constructed of phosphor-bronze or similar spring metal. is Secured at t by one end to the upper face of the disk d in position to press rmly against the cam f. The outer or free end of the electrode has a downwardlyvturned lip o. A companion electrode B is secured to the disk d, and is provided with a vertical lip z, in position to be engaged by the lip o on the electrode ct when depressed. A screw-connector Q/ is disposed on the disk d in contact with the electrode B. The case E is of the ordinary form and construction, and is provided with a threaded socket q for receiving the lamp-bracket, its opposite end being open to admit the lamp, which is turned onto the terminal i' until its ilament comes into contact with the terminal D. When the broad face of the cam is in engagement with the electrode a, said electrod is freed sufiiciently from the pressure of the cam to permit its spring action to disengage it from the companion electrode and break the circuit, as shown in Fig. l. By rotating the key the electrodes may be forced into contact and the circuit closed, as shown in Fig. 2.

I do not confine myself to any particular form of electrodes or to attaching them in any particular position,the main object of my invention being to mount said electrodes on insulating-bases and effect direct electrical connection between the iilament-terminal and the opposite wire electrode by means of the cam. This is accomplished as described, the terminal D being in contactwith the metallic standards e, and the metallic keyshaft and cam mounted in said standards in contact with the electrode d, which may readily be depressed into contact with the electrode B. y

`Having thus explained my inventiomwhat I claim is i l. In an electric switch, a metallic standard in contact with a lamp-terminal and provided with a rotary conducting-cam, a springelectrode in contact with and actuatedl by the cam, and a fixed electrode arranged opposite thereto, whereby direct electrical connection may be eiected between said terminal and IOO the xed electrode, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electric switch, a metallic standard supporting an insulating-plate at each end, lamp-terminals on one of said plates, a fixed and spring electrode on the opposite plate, and a rotaryshaft mounted in said standard and bearing a conducting-cam in engagement With said spring-electrode, whereby it may be forced into contact with the fixed electrode, substantially as and for` the purpose set forth.

3. In an electric switch, the combination of the standards e e, provided with insulatingplates c CZ, with the terminals D, mounted on plate c', the cam f and shaft g, mounted in said standards, and the electrodes B d on the plate d, substantially as described.

HORACE E. SWIFT.

Witnesses:

K. DURFEE, 0. M. SHAW. 

